Shant Soghomonian, 35, has pleaded not guilty to charges of arson at Senator Bernie Sanders’ office in Vermont. The incident occurred on April 5 when Soghomonian allegedly entered the building and set fire to the third-floor office where Sanders’ offices are located. He was recorded on security video spraying a liquid and setting it ablaze with a lighter before leaving the building. The fire damaged the outside of the office door, surrounding areas, and triggered sprinklers on multiple floors. Multiple employees were present in the office at the time, but no injuries were reported.
During Soghomonian’s arraignment, Judge Kevin J. Doyle ordered pretrial motions from both sides to be filed by July 22. Last week, the judge had ordered Soghomonian to be detained pending further proceedings. If convicted, Soghomonian could face five to 20 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine, according to the Justice Department. Soghomonian’s public defender has not commented on the case. The motive behind the alleged arson is unclear, and Soghomonian’s trial is still pending.
The Justice Department reported that Soghomonian was seen on security footage spraying a liquid near the outer door of the office and igniting it with a handheld lighter. He then fled through a staircase as the fire began to spread. The incident caused damage to the surrounding areas and triggered sprinklers on multiple floors. Although there were multiple employees present in Senator Sanders’ office during the arson, no injuries were reported. It remains unknown how many other individuals were in the building at the time.
The incident at Senator Bernie Sanders’ office in Vermont has raised concerns about security and safety in political offices. The motive behind the arson is unknown, and the case is still under investigation. Soghomonian’s plea of not guilty suggests that he denies the charges brought against him. The trial proceedings and pretrial motions are set to take place in the coming weeks, and the outcome of the case remains to be seen. The damage caused by the fire has since been repaired, and Senator Sanders’ office continues to function as usual.
The alleged arson at Senator Bernie Sanders’ office has garnered media attention, with CNN reaching out to Soghomonian’s public defender for comment. The incident took place on April 5, and Soghomonian was charged with using fire to damage the building. The security footage showed him setting the fire near the outer door of the office before fleeing the scene. The fire caused damage to the office door and surrounding areas, triggering sprinklers on multiple floors. No injuries were reported despite multiple employees being present in the office at the time.
The charges against Soghomonian could lead to a prison sentence of five to 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000 if convicted. The legal proceedings are underway, with pretrial motions to be filed by July 22. The motive behind the arson is still unclear, and the case has raised questions about security measures in political offices. Senator Bernie Sanders’ office has since been repaired, and operations continue as normal. The trial will determine Soghomonian’s guilt or innocence in the alleged arson incident and the repercussions he may face if convicted.
